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MEMBER NEWS

Cinnaire & Allen Neighborhood Center Join Forces to

Revitalize Lansing’s Eastside

ALLEN PLACE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE MIXED-INCOME HOUSING AND SERVE AS A HUB FOR

WIDE RANGE OF COMMUNITY SERVICES

AFTER MORE THAN 21 YEARS OF PROVIDING FOOD AND HEALTH-RELATED SERVICES Conveniently located close to downtown Lansing, the project will provide
to Lansing residents, the Allen Neighborhood Center is undertaking a major much-needed affordable housing options for individuals, families, young
rebuild. Cinnaire has announced a $5.9 million investment to support the professionals, and seniors. Allen Place provides an age-friendly environment
rehabilitation and significant expansion of the Allen Neighborhood Center designed to facilitate social interaction and social programming and allowing
(ANC) to create Allen Place, a project at the intersection of food, health, senior residents to age in place. Other project amenities for residents will
housing, and energy innovation. The project is expected to generate a capital include active programming from ANC, a community room, computer center,
investment of $11 million and create 14 full-time jobs. Since 2018, Cinnaire outdoor picnic areas and ‘green spaces, ‘ an on-site farmers market, nutrition
Solutions, the in-house development division of Cinnaire, has partnered with education, and cooking classes.
ANC Holdings, LLC, to generate funding and bring about this comprehensive
development project. In addition to Cinnaire, the Allen Place Project has received generous support
from the City of Lansing, Michigan Community Capital (providing an
“Cinnaire Solutions is focused on making meaningful impact guided by five allocation of New Market Tax Credits), the Lansing Economic Development
principles – people, place, partnerships, pioneering, and prosperity,” said Corporation, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the
Christopher Laurent, Cinnaire Solutions President. “It has been a rewarding Michigan Department of Agriculture, the Michigan Department of
experience for our team to collaborate with the ANC team to bring this Environment, Great Lakes & Energy (EGLE), Lansing Board of Water
transformative project to Lansing’s Eastside.” and Light, the Michigan Good Food Fund, Lansing Area Community
Trust Fund, Consumers Energy Foundation, The Accident Fund, Capital
The Allen Place Project will include 21 mixed-income rental housing units, a Area Community Foundation, and Comerica Foundation. Also, PNC Bank
health clinic, a food co-op specializing in locally grown/raised food products, provided ANC with a $3.4 million loan to help make the development a
and increased access to healthy food options for area residents. An Accelerator reality.
Kitchen will catalyze expanded business opportunities and growth for small
scale food entrepreneurs. The Accelerator, along with ANC’s six-year-old “PNC’s Community Development Banking Group is committed to improving
Incubator Kitchen, will create a pipeline of small food business development the quality of life in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods,” said Tim
infrastructure on the block. Salisbury, PNC regional president for Mid-Michigan. “Our team collaborated
with a great group of dedicated professionals to make this truly amazing
The development team has partnered with the Lansing Board of Water and project come to life.”
Light to create the region’s first micro-grid incorporating multiple methods of
solar collection (e.g., solar¬ collecting roof panels and carports and solar doc This neighborhood-crafted project also enjoys enthusiastic support from the
picnic tables in our ‘solar courtyard’.) engaged and mobilized residents of Lansing’s Eastside. n

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